Randi Altschul facts for kids

Randice-Lisa "Randi" Altschul (born 1960) is an American inventor from New Jersey. She is famous for creating toys and games that became very popular. Randi also invented the world's first disposable cell phone. She achieved great success even without a lot of formal technical training.

Randi Altschul: Toy Inventor Extraordinaire

Randi Altschul started her career by inventing fun toys and games. Her ideas were often linked to popular TV shows, which helped them become big hits.

Inventing Popular Games

One of her first big ideas was a game based on the TV show Miami Vice. She also created a special game for Barbie's 30th birthday. Randi even designed a stuffed toy that could give hugs! She also came up with a monster-shaped breakfast cereal that became soft in milk.

Linking Toys to TV Shows

Randi was smart about how she marketed her games. She made board games connected to famous American TV series. These included Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Simpsons. Her success in the toy world helped her earn a lot of money. She used some of her earnings to invest in new, super-thin technology. This technology would later help her create something amazing.

The Idea for a Disposable Phone

Randi got the idea for a disposable phone when she was using her own mobile phone. She was driving and lost her signal. She felt like throwing her expensive phone out the window! This moment made her think: what if there was a phone you could just throw away? She realized a cheap, temporary phone could be very useful for travelers or people who only needed a phone for a short time. To make her idea happen, Randi started a new company called Diceland Technologies.

Creating the First Disposable Cell Phone

In November 1999, Randi Altschul teamed up with Lee Volte. He was an expert in research and development. Together, they worked to create the very first disposable phone.

The Phone-Card-Phone

Their new product was called the Phone-Card-Phone. It was named this because it was as thin as a credit card. The phone was less than a quarter-inch thick. It was made from recycled paper materials. This phone also had a special computer chip. This chip allowed people to use the phone to make purchases, almost like a credit card. This was one of the first times mobile payment was ever tried!

How the Disposable Phone Worked

The Phone-Card-Phone was planned to sell for about $20. It could be used for up to one hour of talk time. People who returned the phone after using it could even get a small credit back. In 2002, the Phone-Card-Phone was named "Product of the Year" by a company called Frost and Sullivan.

Who Was the Phone For?

Randi and her company, Diceland Technologies, thought the Phone-Card-Phone would be great for certain people. They imagined it for people who didn't care about having the newest technology. It was also perfect for parents who just wanted their kids to be able to call them. Randi also aimed the phone at tourists. These travelers might not need a phone all the time, but would want one for a short vacation abroad.

See also

In Spanish: Randi Altschul para niños